Choosing a new television requires you to discuss your needs with the entire family, evaluate your budget, and ultimately find a system with the clarity and definition you prefer. Selecting a new car means carefully reviewing the options, thinking about color preferences and special features, and choosing a style and brand you love that fits your budget. But purchasing a standard home appliance, like a heating system, works a bit differently.

Buying a heating system or an air conditioner is what’s known as a distress purchase. That means it is a purchase typically made out of necessity and often due to an emergency, which means many people don’t take the time to select a system they really love. We think it’s time for that to change.

Your home air filter is in place for a reason. Yes, it can filter out particulate that could otherwise make you sick or have an effect on your allergies or asthma symptoms. However, that’s more a feature of modern air filters. Filters have been engineered for furnaces and air conditioners since the beginning of the 20th century, since without them, the system could be pummeled by debris as the blower fan sucks in air.

An air filter is there to protect your health and your investment. But when it gets too dirty, it’s not really helping you at all. This isn’t just due to health concerns. (In fact, the lack of air circulation may help to stop even more particles from circulating!) Rather, it’s because a dirty filter raises the cost of heating and cooling.